After a quivering start to the season, Max Verstappen has quite firmly laid his dominion over the rest of the grid including his own teammate, Sergio Perez. Hence, amidst such a one-sided affair unfolding at Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton decided to take a jab at arch-rival Verstappen and his plain-sailing charge toward yet another world championship title.
Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Perez was a mere point away from snatching Verstappen’s lead in the championship standings for the first time in his two-year tenure at Red Bull. Furthermore, the Mexican’s morale was higher than ever as he openly acknowledged his challenge for the title. Hence, there was optimism growing within the paddock, with a potential nail-biting title fight in the vicinity.
Sergio Perez, the streets of Baku belong to you ✨#AzerbaijanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/GFnFsSwrqG
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 2, 2023
However, while the entire motorsport community was prepping for a feisty teammate rivalry, the defending world champion unleashed his truest potential, effortlessly breezing past Perez. Now, halfway into the season, Verstappen is in a league of his own, with Perez trailing by a shocking 125 points.
Hence, amidst such contrasting scenes unfolding at either side of the Red Bull garage, Hamilton reckoned that Verstappen wouldn’t be having this free will if the seven-time world champion was his teammate.
Lewis Hamilton picks on Max Verstappen amidst one-sided F1 title fight
Following the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton admitted that he would do anything to be as fast as Verstappen. Furthermore, Hamilton pulled the Dutchman’s legs by pointing out his pressure-free title pursuit, with Perez’s underwhelming performances proving to be icing on the cake.
“Do I want to be as fast as [Max]? Of course! Would I like to have a car that’s as fast as him? Of course! If I was in Sergio’s car, Max would not be having the same [good] time he’s having now,” the Mercedes driver claimed.
“If I was in Sergio’s car… Max would not be having the same time that he’s having now.”
BDE 🫠🥵 pic.twitter.com/tosALXuklz
— Marina (@xxoMarina) July 31, 2023
Hamilton’s suggestion is certainly justifiable, considering his breathtaking title rivalry with Verstappen in 2021. With near-equal cars, the duo portrayed one of the greatest rivalries in the history of Formula 1, as Verstappen finally emerged victorious on the very final lap of the title showdown at Abu Dhabi GP.
In a recent interview, even Dr. Helmut Marko suggested that Hamilton is one of the two F1 drivers who could get anywhere near Verstappen. “For Checo, a second place is like a victory at the moment. Max is hardly beatable. I think maybe only Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso could be slightly closer to him,” the Austrian said.
Overall, Mercedes is currently nowhere near Red Bull’s searing pace, heading into the summer break. Hence, can the Brackley outfit work some magic with W14 and re-ignite Hamilton’s insane rivalry with Verstappen in the second half of the fairly unenthusiastic campaign?